A Perfect World in Bomberland

A few short weeks ago, following the dismissal of Doug Berry as Head Coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, I was openly skeptical of the front-runner Mike Kelly. Today, Mike Kelly has been named Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator of the Bombers, and it is plain and simply the wrong choice.

Mike Kelly just finished a season as Receivers Coach of the Edmonton Eskimos. Lets give kudos where they are deserved, whatever he did to make Kamau Peterson an all-star, and Most Outstanding Canadian is impressive to anyone who is forced to remember Peterson's season and a half in Winnipeg, and 2+ forgettable seasons in Hamilton. Edmonton's receivers were decent under the guidance of Kelly. It should be noted that Ricky Ray is arguably the best Quarterback in the CFL, and Rick Worman is a damn good Offensive Coordinator.

Kelly's claim to fame in the CFL was as Offensive Coordinator in Winnipeg from 1992-1996 under Cal Murphy. In his first two seasons, Kelly was the archetect of a damn good offense. Lets not fail to mention a hall of famer by the name of Matt Dunnigan was his QB. Dunnigan's backup in the first season was a young man named Danny MacManus as well. In his last two less than stellar seasons, with a combination of Sammy Garza, Reggie Slack and Kent Austin (a great quarterback in his own right) the Bombers offense was hidious. Nothing that would warrant automatic consideration as the new Blue Boss 12 years later (and rest assured, prior to Berry's firing, Bauer knew Kelly was the heir-apparent).

In a perfect world, the Bombers would have and should have promoted Defensive Coordinator Greg Marshall to Head Coach. Marshall has the respect of his defensive unit, and over his 3 seasons as the teams DC, has not had a season where the team didn't perform to expectation. In fact, all three seasons of the Doug Berry era where the team made the playoffs, including a Grey Cup loss, the defense was the selling feature for the team. Even with injuries to key personel, Barrin Simpson and Tom Canada this season, and the departure of one of the best defensive players in recent history Kyries Hybert, the team remained stingy when without the ball. Marshall has done this franchise proud, and without question should have received first consideration as new Head Coach. But he's not Bauer's cronie. Marshall should start a facebook club with Dave Ritchie, another coaching legend who did the franchise proud, but wasn't a buddy to Lyle.

Perfect worlds are very hypothetical, so lets play the what if game. Had Marshall been promoted to Head Coach, who would have made ideal candidates as Coordinators?

On the offensive side of the ball, Mike Kelly would make a great choice as OC. It would make Bauer happy for one, he's supposedly an Offensive genius, afterall. He said in his press conference today, his skill is to get the best out of a Quarterback. While Kevin Glenn definitely deserves a chance to play under a real Offensive Coordator. Kelly would have been easily available, after not even warranting consideration in Edmonton for their Head Coaching vacancy. OC in Winnipeg would still be a very fitting promotion for perhaps one of the most over-rated Head Coaches the Bombers have hired since Jim Daly and (shutter) Jeff Reinbolt.

Defensively, I'd call on Rich Stubler to bring the same tough defense from Toronto to Winnipeg. With Marshall overseeing the Defensive gameplan, and Stubler implementing some of his expertise, I do believe the team would be in good hands. Keep key personel, such as Doug Brown, Zeke Moreno, Gavin Walls, and the entire secondary, and this team would be an instant contender.

Unfortunately for Mike Kelly, he's truly a genuine nice gentleman, who badly wanted to be head coach of Winnipeg, and has the very tough task of delivering a Grey Cup to Winnipeg. Anything less, would make the fans wish for the days that Doug Berry was strong-arming the sidelines, and bringing our beloved blue, within one broken arm of a grey cup.

Good luck to Kelly. He got the job because he was a good guy, the type of guy the CEO would be proud to call a buddy, not because he had a great football resume, or was the right choice.